New EU regulatory package: minimum hygiene requirements for materials and products in contact with drinking water are harmonized

Cologne, April 23, 2024 - After the revision of the EU Drinking Water Directive came into force in January 2021, it is now being supplemented with regulations that will harmonize minimum hygiene requirements for materials and products in contact with drinking water throughout the entire EU internal market.

Today, a package of regulations consisting of six separate implementing and delegated acts has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. This marks another significant step towards EU-wide harmonization of minimum hygiene requirements for materials and products in contact with drinking water.

As of December 31, 2026, strict hygiene requirements will be introduced EU-wide for products used in the construction or refurbishment of drinking water supply systems. This means strengthened health protection for consumers and significant adjustments for manufacturers of affected products in terms of testing requirements and conformity assessment to ensure product safety.

The new requirements cover the entire range of products in the sanitary and drinking water sectors, such as pipelines, valves, pumps, water meters, or fittings. In addition to new testing requirements, they also include mandatory certification and labeling of products with a newly introduced and universally applicable European mark. Since the regulations apply directly and therefore bindingly in every EU Member State, products can be placed on the market and used throughout the EU without further testing.

In recent years, figawa has significantly contributed to shaping the legislative process as the German industry association and is one of the driving forces behind the unique industry initiative "European Drinking Water."

Volker Meyer, Managing Director of figawa and Chairman of the European Drinking Water Industry Initiative, said: "The publication of the regulatory package is another milestone in achieving our goal, for which figawa has been actively advocating for more than 10 years: One standard, one test accepted everywhere in Europe."

figawa will continue to actively participate in the practical implementation of the requirements and represent the interests of the industry in the relevant bodies of the European Commission. Since the new regulations affect not only product manufacturers but also operators, planners, and executing companies, figawa is in close communication with the relevant organizations to provide early information about the changes.

Further information:

The regulatory package:

Pictures:

  • 2024-04-23_Bild01_EU-Zeichen | Quelle: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/371, Annex
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